Peoria, IL : One woman, three children hurt in Downtown Peoria crash on Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Police say a car ran a red light and slammed into a minivan Wednesday in Downtown Peoria, sending a woman and her three small children to the hospital.

Police said Wednesday night the woman's injuries were considered life-threatening, while her children's injuries were believed to be minor. More information about them was not available.

The male driver of the car, a Lexus, fled the scene, police said.

The accident occurred about noon at the intersection of Main and Adams streets. Peoria police say the car was headed north on Adams when it ran the light and slammed into the woman's minivan, which was headed west on Main Street. The collision then caused the minivan to slide farther down on Adams — nearly in front of Caterpillar Inc. world headquarters.

The car then caromed off the street and onto the Peoria County Courthouse Plaza, where it struck bollards on the southeastern corner of the plaza. Debris littered the sidewalk and street. A sole car seat for a young child was left sitting in the rain, more than an hour after paramedics took the woman and children to the hospital.

Police say the driver of the car jumped out and fled the area. Witnesses say he got into another car and left. Others said they heard the car was stolen, a statement that police said didn't appear to be true.

The accident occurred at a location that is normally teeming with people. At least two food carts were in the location where the Lexus finally came to rest.

Source :
One woman, three children hurt in Downtown Peoria crash